System for making and handling cork disks



c E. McMANUS. SYSTEM FOR MAKING AND HANDLING CORK DISKS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 29,192!- msz wfizo mm 0%.1751922.

Patented @ct. l7, 119322.

nearer CHARLES E. IVICIVIANUS, (3F NEW YORK, N. Y.

SYSTEM: FOR MAKING AND HANDLING CORK DISKS.

Application filed December 29, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, CHARLES E. Mc- MANUS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements ina System for Making and Handling Cork Disks, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings,which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to a system for making and handling cork disks, andmore par ticularly to an association and combination of mechanismswhereby disks are cut from cork stock, either natural or composition, orfrom previously formed composition cork rods and delivered to theirpoint of ultimate use, all imperfect disks, broken parts of disks andcork dust, designated generally as waste, being automatically removedfrom the product of the disk forming or slicing machines before deliveryof such disks to their point of ultimate consumption.

*leretofore in the art of making disks for bottle caps, it has been thepractice particu larly when the disks are cut from composi tion cordrods to deliver such cork rods from the baker to the slicing machinesthe product of said slicing machines having been accumulated in basketsand the dust,broken particles and imperfect disks, or waste, removedtherefrom by mechanical sitters and by hand, the perfect disks afterbeing separated from the imperfect ones and the refuse, being removed byhand and either stored or delivered manually to the bottle capassembling machines. In some instances. the cork disk feeding mechanismsof such assembling machines were utilized to separate some waste fromthe disks delivered thereto in bulk. The method of producing andhandling such disks in large bulk, ias required a large force of men,and the product has not always been satisfactory.

With the above conditions in mind, lhave provided a system whereby theproduct of the disk forming or slicing machines will be automaticallyremoved from adjacent such machines as it is produced, thus permittingthe accumulated product of a number of Serial No. 525,808.

machines to be simultaneously handled and delivered in volume to one ora plurality of tumbling sieves which will effectively sepaarateimperfect disks and cork particles or dust from the perfect disks, andautomatically deliver hem to a mechanism which will convey the perfectdisks, after the waste has been separated therefrom, to the hoppers ofbottle cap assembling machines with which the disks are user Themechanisms of system embodyino; my invention work entirelyautomatically, prevent the accumulation of a mass of proclucts of theslicing machines which require separation in order to permit theeffective actuation of other separating mechanisms thereon, and avoidany handling of the prodnot after the formed disks have once beendelivered by the slicing or forming machines.

The manner of handling'the product of the slicing or forming machinesbefore and after it leaves the separators, is such as to secure apartial separation of perfect disks from the waste, so as to facilitatethe handling; of this product by the separators and remove any line dustwhich may adhere to the disks and be separated therefrom during theirmotion while in transit from the sepa rators to the bottle capassembling chines. The system is such that different portions thereofmay be utilized or not, as desired, so as to adapt the entire system tothe output capacity of the slicing or forming machines and permitvariance in the capacity of the entire system through the shutting downof such machines.

In addition to delivering the disks to the bottle cap assemblingmachines. I provide means whereby, if desired, a portion or all of thedisks may be delivered at a point be fore they reach the assemblingmachines, since under some conditions these disks sold as separatearticles of commerce instead whereby disks delivered thereto will. beconveyed from adjacent said mechanism, a movable screen into which saidtube discharges, means adapted to receive disks from said screen, apneumatic tube into which said means discharges, and means maintaining aconstant circulation of air within said last named tube, whereby saiddisks will be conveyed from said last named means to a point remotetherefrom; and in such other novel features of construction andcombination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, andmore particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a condensed plan view showing the arrangement of the differentmechanisms Cir entering into the system of my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Like letters refer to like parts in both of said views. v

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, 1 havelndicated at a, a and a three cork disk slicing machines particularlyadapted to separate composition cork rods into disks of the desiredthickness. While I have shown but three of these machines, it isapparent that the number thereof may be increased to any deslred extent.

The outlets of said machines are indicated at 7), 6 and b respectively,said outlets discharging into a pneumatic tube so that the disks asproduced in said machines will be discharged directly into openings insaid tube irrespective of whether said disks are perfect or imperfect,broken particles of cork or cork dust, being delivered to said tube asan incident to the delivery of the disks thereto.

in-dicated at c and is shown as being of gradually diminishing diameteror capacity for the purpose of accommodating this tube to a number ofdisk producing mechanisms arranged in a battery.

Communicating with the tube 0 is the intake of a blower (,5 so as toconstantly withdraw air from said tube and thus maintain a constantcirculation of air toward said blower and maintain a-constant suctionsufficient to carry the cork disks andwaste from adjacent each machines,a and a such disks and waste being sufficiently light to be readilycarried in suspension in the air. When a large battery of disk makingmachines is used, I also employ at the other end of the tube 0, a blowere which will serve to deliver an air current to, and ac celerate theflow of air through, said tube 0.

By graduating the diameter of said tube 0, the effective suctionadjacent each ofthe machines 01, a and a will be substantiallyequalized, the blower e preventing any stag nation adjacent the machinesof the battery more remote from the blower 03.

Leading from the oiftake of the blower at is a pneumatic tube fdischarging into an inclined agitating screen 9, or if desired aplurality of such screens, in which the latter case branch pipes f areprovided leading from the main pneumatic tube f and dischargingrespectively into a screen 9. Said screens 9 are preferably in the formof rotating drums having agitators g therein, as shown more particularlyin Fig. 2.

In each of the branch pipes f is a cutoff valve f so that one or more ofthe screens 9 may be used, as desired, the tube f, when a plurality ofscreens 9 are to be served thereby, being of progressively reduceddiameter as shown, with the small end thereof closed, thus retarding themovement of the air, and disks and other matter in suspension therein,in a manner to ensure the feeding of such matter to a succession of suchscreens 9.

The screens 9 are supported and rotated in any desired manner .as by thebelts 9 The screens g are preferably in barrel form and are covered witha mesh sufficiently large to permit the escape of cork particles, corkdust and imperfect disks therethrough, .the movement of said screensconstantly agitating the mass of disks therein, to which is constantlyadded a fresh sup ply through the branch pipe f so as to secure aseparation of the perfect disks from the imperfect ones and waste, andthe gradual feeding of the perfect disks towardthe low end of thescreens from whence they will flow upon a conveyor belt h. The disks 7are conveyed by said belt from adjacent the screen to a pneumatic tubei, one end of which communicates with the intake of a blower j and theother end of which is closed, said pneumatic tube 71 being of graduallyincreased diameter so as to ensure an affective application of suctionto all parts thereof by the blower The upper reach of the belt h passesabout the pulleys h and 7L2 so as to have different portions of saidreach upon different horizontal planes and thus cause the turning of alldisks as they pass from one portion thereof to the portion upon thelower plane, so that an operator stationed at this point may inspect thedisks as they are passing from the screen.

Thetubes 0 and i are provided with suitable openings to receive'the corkdisks and waste, the capacity of these openings being insufiicient tomaterially impair the efiiciency of the blowers d and 7' while ensuringthe entrance of the disks to within the tu e.

Leading from the discharge end of the blower y is a pneumatic tube ishaving discharge openings in the bottom thereof through which the corkdisks may be discharged to an elongated hopper m having a sequence ofoutlets m through which said disks may be delivered to chutes 41adjacent the hopper of a cork feeding mechanism 0 of a bottle capassembling machine 39. Said assembling machine is shown merelyconventionally, as the details of construction thereof are immaterial tothe present invention.

The tube is of reduced diameter toward the end thereof most remote fromthe blower j, as shown more particularly in Fig. 1, so as to ensure thedesired distribution of the cork disks throughout different portions ofthe hopper trough m.

I employ a plurality of chutes a, one adjacent each assembling machine,the trough m having a gate m controlling the opening m to each chute nso as to permit the cutting 01f of the supply of disks to any assemblingmachines.

I also provide each opening in the tube Z: with gate 70 .50 thatifdesired all or any outlet openings 70 in the tube is may be closed, aswhen limiting the quantity of disks delivered to the trough m, or whenit is desired to deliver some or all of said disks to boxes or barrelsinstead of to the assembling machines.

This delivery of the disks to boxes or barrels is secured through themedium of the vertically extending branch tub-e qleading from the tube70 intermediate the blower j and the trough m, the opening between. saidtube 1 and said tube 7: being controlled by a gate 9.

Adjacent the disk cutting or slicing machines a, a and a and above sameis a platform 9' upon which the workman may stand when feeding cork rodsto said machines.

The operation of the herein described mechanism is substantially asfollows lVhen producing cork disks, the blowers (Z, c and 7' have powerapplied thereto sub stantially simultaneously with the application ofpower to the disk producing machines a, a and a and the conveyermechanism 7a and the screens 9.

As a result of the actuation of the blowers (Z and 6, air will bewithdrawn from adjacent the large end of the pneumatic tube 0 so as tohave a tendency to develop a subatmospheric pressure within said tub-ewhich is relieved through the openings in said tube into which theoutlet chutes b, 25 and o discharge, the air rushing into said tubesthrough said openings carrying with it disks delivered by the machinesa, a and 64 including imperfect disks, particles of cork and cork dust.

The blower 0 will deliver air to the small end of the tube 0 so as tomaintain the desired circulation of air, this blower being of lowercapacity than the blower d and being designed merely to ensure thedevelopment of the desired current of air ad acent the cork diskproducing machines more remote from the blower (Z, since if a largebattery of such machines is used, the effective suction adjacent themachine most remote from the blower (Z may be insufficient to impart thedesired rapid movement to the material delivered by said machines.

The constant current of air through the tube 0 is sufiiciently strong tocarry the cork disks and incidental .i'aste away from the machines (4.,a and a? as rapidly as they are delivered, such material passing throughthe blower (Z and being delivered into the pneumatic tube f, beingdischarged therefrom through the branch pipes f to the rotary screens9', the reduced end of said tube f causing the retardation of the aircurrent towards the end of the tube so that a portion thereof with thecork disks and waste will pass through each branch tube 7 to a barrelscreen The screens 1 are constantly rotating, and as a result of thisrotation, and of the large mesh screen, practically all brokenparticles, imperfect disks and heavy dust will be sifted from theperfect disks, the mass of perfect disks gradually workinglongitudinally of the barrel until they are discharged upon the conveyer72. The tumbling action of said screens 9 will not only serve to siftthe imperfect disks, broken particles and cork dust from the products ofthe machines a, a and a passing therethrough, but will, through theconstant agitation of the perfect disks and the rubbing action againstthe mesh and the baffles of the screen and each other, tend to separateany loose cork dust from the disks so that when they emerge from thescreen they will be sufiiciently clean to permit them to be packed forshipment, or be used in the assembling machines 17, as de sired.

' By looping the conveyor belt it about the pulleys h and h, the diskswhich fall upon this belt fiatwise will be automatically turned so thatif desired an operator stationed at this point may inspect the disks andremove imperfect ones of a size too large to pass through the meshes ofa screen 9.

The disks are delivered from the belt it to the tube 2' connected withthe air intake of the blower y so as to be conveyed from adjacent eachbelt rapidly as they are delivered to said tube a, the current of airand the disks carried thereby being delivered through the tube it" tothe trough m and then to the hoppers of the cork feeding attachment ofthe various machines g), or if desired, through the branch tube (1 tostorage boxes or barrels, or a part may be delivered to said trough andpart to said boxes or barrels.

A system embodying my invention must be so designed as to handle themaximum volume of disks which may be produced in the machines a, a and aand any desired number of such machines may be used.

These machines produce disks with great rapidity, cork rods being fedthereto as required, by a workman upon the platform r. If it be desired,however, to curtail the capacity of the system this may be done byshutting down any desired number of machines a, a. or a and reducing thecapacity of the screen unit by closing one or more of the gates 7, asdesired, Since the capacity of the battery (4, a and a will ordinarilybe proportioned to the requirement of the battery of assembling machines79, it is apparent that when some of the units of the bat-- tery of:disk producing machines are in operative, the gates m and leg adjacentsome of the assembling machines p should also be closed. In fact byemploying the gates F, k and m the capacity of the system may becontrolled throughout.

Under some conditions it is desirable to operate the battery of corkdisk producing machines to the full capacity even though conditions donot justify the operation of all assembling machines 1)?) of the batteryserved thereby. Under such conditions some of the gates m and adjacentthe assembling machines 7) which are not in use, are closed, and thegate y is open, the surplus product of the disk producing 1nachinesthen-being delivered through the branch tube Q where they may be storedin suitable receptacles so that if desired said disks may be usedwithout being assembled in the bottle caps, or may be stored as areserve for use in the assembling machines when the cork disk producingmachines are not operating.

A system embodying my invention has the advantage, in addition to theautomatic supply of cork disks to the assembling machines, and theincidental reduction of labor cost in handling the disks, that the disksare kept always clean and uncontaminated by handling or by falling uponthe floor adjacent the machines a, c and a are thoroughly cleansed bybeing passed through the pneumatic tubes and through the screens 9, ofcork particles and dust, and have but few ii'i'iperitect disksat thepoint of ultimate delivery due to the fact that the finer particles ofdust are separated from the heavier matter when being delivered to thescreens 9 and are delivered to said screens in rapid succession insteadof in bulk so that the imperfect disks and broken particles are morereadily and more rapidly separated from the perfect disks while in thescreens.

l have discovered by actual practice that the pneumatic transportationof light cork disks, results in less waste and can be much more rapidlyaccomplished than the trans-- ter of the disks from point to point'ofthe factory by hand, and that the disks when delivered are in bettercondition when transported in this 'manner than when this work is doneby hand I Furthermore, it is possible to widely separate the cork diskproducing machines from the bottle cap assembling machines and thusavoid the presence of fumes freed from the cork rods or other materialby the action of the cutters thereon, adjacent the assembling machines.

VVhile an effective distribution of disks is secured by theparticulararrangement of parts shown in the drawings, it is apparent that thisarrangement is immaterial to the invention and may be varied accordingto a particular desired grouping of mechanisms in a factory, to securethe most effective utilization of floor space. v

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts shown in the drawings, it beingapparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent, is

l. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein a diskforming mechanism, a pneumatic tube adapted to receive disks from saidmechanism, means maintaining a constant circulation of air in said tube,whereby disks delivered thereto will be conveyed "from adjacent saidmecha nism, a movable screen into which said tube discharges, meansadapted to receive disks from said screen, a pneumatic tube into whichsaid means discharges, and means maintaining a constant circulation ofair within said last named tube, whereby said disks will be conveyedfrom said last named means to a point remote therefrom.

2. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein a diskforming mechanism, a pneumatic tube adapted to receive disks from saidmechanism, means maintaining a constant circulation of air in said tube,whereby disks delivered thereto will be conveyed from adjacent saidmechanism, a tube leading from said means, a movable screen into whichsaid last named tube discharges, means adapted to receive disks fromsaid screen, a pneumatic tube into which said means discharges, meansmaintaining a constant circulation of air within said last named tube,whereby said disks will be conveyed from said last named means to apoint remote therefrom, a bottle cap assembling machine having a corkdisk feeding attachment, a tube leading from said last named means andterminating, and

having a discharge openlng therein, ad-

jacent said assembling machine, and means whereby disks passing throughsaid opening are conveyed to said disk feeding attachment,

8. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein a diskforming mechanism, a pneumatic tube adapted to receive disks from saidmechanism, means maintaining a constant circulation of air in said tube,whereby disks delivered thereto will be conveyed from adjacent saidmechanism, a tube leading from said means, a movable screen into whichsaid last named tube discharges, means adapted to receive disks fromsaid screen, a pneumatic tube into which said means discharges, meansmaintaining a constant circulation of air within said last named tube,whereby said disks will be conveyed from said last named means to apoint remote therefrom, a bottle cap assembling machine'having a corkdisk feeding attachment, a tube leading from said last named means andterminating, and having a discharge opening therein, adjacent saidassembling machine, means whereby disks passing through said opening areconveyed to said disk feeding attachment, a branch tube leading fromsaid last named tube intermediate said means maintaining a circulationof air therein and said assembling machine, and a gate controlling saidbranch tube whereby cork disks may be exeluded from, or permitted topass through, said branch tube.

4. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein a diskforming mechanism, a pneumatic tube adapted to receive disks from saidmechanism, a blower, the inlet of which is connected with said tube,whereby disks delivered thereto will be conveyed from adjacent saidmechanism, a tube connected with the outlet of said blower, a movablescreen into which said tube discharges, means adapted to receive disksfrom said screen, a pneumatic tube into which said means discharges, ablower having its inlet connected with said last named pneumatic tube,and a pneumatic tube connected with the outlet of said last namedblower, whereby said disks will be conveyed from said blower to a pointremote therefrom.

5. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein aplurality of disk forming mechanisms, a pneumatic tube adapted toreceive disks from said mechanisms respectively, a blower having itsinlet connected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of graduallyreduced diameter from adjacent said blower, a second pneumatic tubeleading from the outlet of said blower, a movable screen into which saidtube discharges, means adapted to receive disks from said screen, apneumatic tube into which said means discharges, a blower having itsinlet connected with said last named pneumatic tube, and a pneumatictube connected with the outlet 01 said last named blower, whereby saiddisks will be conveyed from said blower to a point remote therefrom.

6. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein aplurality of disk forming mechanisms, a pneumatic tube adapted toreceive disks from said mechanisms respectively, a blower having itsinlet connected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of graduallyreduced diameter from adjacent said blower, a blower having its outletconnected with the small end of said tube, a second pneumatic tubeleading from the outlet of said first named blower, a movable screeninto which said tube discharges, means adapted to receive disks fromsaid screen, a pneumatic tube into which said means discharges, a blowerhaving its inlet connected with said last named pneumatic tube, and apneumatic tube connected with the outlet of said last named blower,whereby said disks will be conveyed from said blower to a point remotetherefrom.

7. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein aplurality of disk forming mechanisms, a pneumatic tube adapted toreceive disks from said mechanisms respectively, a blower having itsinlet connected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of graduallyreduced diameter from adjacent said blower, a second pneumatic tubeleading from the outlet of said blower, a plurality of movable screens,branch tubes leading from said second pneumatic tube and discharginginto said screens respectively, means adapted to receive disks from saidscreens respectively, a pneumatic tube into which said last named meansrespectively discharge, a blower having its inlet connected with saidlast named pneumatic tube, and a pneumatic tube connected with theoutlet of said last named blower, whereby said disks will be conveyedfrom said blower to a point remote therefrom.

8. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein aplurality of disk forming mechanisms, a pneumatic tube adapted toreceive disks from said mechanisms respectively, a blower having itsinlet connected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of graduallyreduced diameter from adjacent said blower, a second pneumatic tubeleading from the outlet or said blower, a plurality of movable screens,branch tubes leading from said second pneumatic tube and discharginginto said screens respectively, means adapted to receive disks from saidscreens respectively, a pneumatic tube into which said last named meansrespectively discharge, said last named tube being of graduallyincreasing diameter from adjacent said last named means, a blower havingits inlet connected with the large end of said last named tube, apneumatic tube connected with the outlet of said last named blower,whereby said disks will be conveyed from said blower to a point re motetherefrom.

9. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein aplurality of disk forming mechanisms, a pneumatic tube adapted toreceive disks from said mechanisms respectively, a blower having itsinlet connected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of graduallyreduced diameter from adjacent said blower, a second pneu matic tubeleading from the outlet of said blower, a plurality of movable screens,branch tubes leading from said second pneumatic tube and discharginginto said screens respectively, means adapted to receive disks from saidscreens respectively, a pneumatic tube into which said last named meansrespectively discharge, said last named tube being of graduallyincreasing diameter from adjacent last named means, a blower having itsinlet connected with the large end of said last named tube, a pluralityof bottle cap assembling machines'each having a cork disk feedingattachment, a pnuematic tube leading from the outlet of said last namedblower and extending adjacent each. of said assembling machines, andhaving openings therethrough, and means adapted to receive cork disksfrom said last named tube and deliver them to said cork feedingattachments respectively.

10 A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein aplurality of disk forming mechanisms, a pneumatic tube adapted ,toreceive disks from said mechanisms respectively, a blower having itsinlet connected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of graduallyreduced diameter from adjacent said blower, a second pneu matic tubeleading from the outlet of said blower, a plurality of movable screens,branch tubes leading from said second pneumatic tube and discharginginto said screens respectively, means adapted to receive disks from saidscreens respectively, a pneumatic tube into which said last named meansrespectively discharge, said last named tube be ing of graduallyincreasing diameter from adjacent said last named means, a blower havingits inlet connected with the large end of said last named tube, aplurality of bottle cap assembling machines each having a cor diskfeeding attachment, a pneumatic tube leading from the outlet of saidlast named blower and extending adjacent each of said assemblingmachines, and having openings therethrough, means adapted to receivecork disks from said last named tube and deliver them to said corkfeeding attachments respectively, and a gate adapted to close theopening in said last named tube adjacent each assemblin machine, saidtube adjacent said assembling machines being of grade ually decreasingdiameter from adjacent said blower.

11. A system for making and handlingcork disrs embodying therein aplurality of disk forming mechanisms, a pneumatic: tube adapted toreceive disks from: said mechanisms respectively, a blower having itsinlet connected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of graduallyreduced diameter from adjacent said blower, a second pneumatic tubeleading from the outlet of said blower, a plurality of movable screens,branch tubes leading from said second pneu matic tube and discharginginto said screens respectively, means adapted to receive disks from saidscreens respectively, a pneumatic tube into which said last namedmeansrespectively discharge, said last named tube being of graduallyincreasing diameter from adjacent saidlast named means, a blower havingits inlet connected with the large end ofsaid last named tube, aplurality of bottle cap assembling machines each having a cork diskfeeding attachment, a pneumatic tube leading from the outlet of saidlast named blower and extending adjacent each of said assembling .machines, and having openings therethrough, means adapted to receive corkdisks from said last named tube and deliver them to said cork feedingattachrnents respectively, a branchtube leading from said last namedtube between said assembling machines and said blower, and a gatewhereby said branch tube may be opened or closed, as desired.

12. A. system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein aplurality of disk forming mechanisms, a pneumatic tube adapted toreceive disks from said mechanisms respectively, a blower having itsinlet connected with said pneumatic, tube, said tube being of graduallyreduced diameter from adjacent said blower, a second pneumatic tubeleading from the outlet of said blower, a plurality of movable screens.branch tubes leading from said second pneumatic tube and discharginginto said screens respectively, a gate in each of said branch tubeswhereby the products of said disk forming mechanisms may be delivered toany or all of said screens, means adapted to receive disks from saidscreens respectlvely, a pneumatic tube into which said last named meansIGSPGCtlVGlY CllSClllIgQ, said last named tube being of graduallyincreasing diameter from ad acent said last named means, a blower havingits inlet connected.

with the large end of said last named tube, a plurality of bottle capassembling machines each having a cork disk feeding attachment, apneumatic tube leading from the outlet of said last named blower andextending adjacent each of said assembling 1,432,197 machines, andhaving openings thereand disch'ar ing into said screens respeo' through,means adapted to receive cork disks from said last named tube anddeliver them to said cork feeding attachments respeo tively, and a gateadapted to close the opening in said last named tube adjacent eachassembling machine, said tube adjacent said assembling machines being ofgradually decreasing diameter from adjacent said blower.

13. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying thereinplurality of disk forming mechanisms, pneumatic tube adapted to receivedisks from said mecha nisms respectively, a blower having its inletconnected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of gradually reduceddiameter from adjacent said blower, a second pneumatic tube leading fromthe outlet of said blower, a plurality of movable screens, branch tubesleading from said second pneumatic tube and discharging into saidscreens respectively, a gate in each of said branch tubes whereby theproducts of said disk forming mechanisms may be de livered to any or allof said screens, means adapted to receive disks from said screensrespectively, a pneumatic tube into which said last named meansrespectively discharge, said lastnamed tube being 0t graduallyincreasing diameter from adjacent said last named means, a blower havingits inlet connected with the large end of said last named tube, aplurality of bottle cap asser s bling machines each having a cork diskfeeding attachment, a pneumatic tube leading from the outlet of saidlast named blower and extending adjacent each of said assemblingmachines, and having openings ther through, means adapted to receivecork disks from said last named tube and deliver them to said corkfeeding attachments respectively, a gate adapted to close the opening insaid last named tube adjacent each. assembling machine, said tubeadjacent said assembling machines being of gradually decreasing diameterfrom adjacent blower, a branch tube leading from said last named tubebetween said assembling machines and said blower, and a gate i erebysaid branch tube may be opened or closed, as desired.

14. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein aplurality of disk forming mechanisms, a pneumatic tubeadapted to receivedisks from said mechanisms respectively, a blower having its inletconnected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of gradually reduceddiameter from adjacent said blower, a second blower having its outletcommunicating with the small end of said tube, a second pneumatic tubeleading from the outlet of said blower,

, a plurality of movable screens, branch tubes leading from said secondpneumatic tube tively, a gate in each or said branch tubes whereby theproducts of said disk forming mechanisms may be delivered to any or allof said screens, means adapted to receive disks from said screensrespectively, a pneumatic tube into which said last named meansrespectively discharge, said last named tube being of graduallyincreasing diameter from adjacent said last named means, a blower havingits inlet connected with the large end of said last named tube, aplurality of bottle cap assembling machines each having a cork diskfeeding at tachment, a pneumatic tube leading from the outlet of saidlast named blower and extending adjacent each of: said assemblingmachines, and having openl -gs there through, means adapted to receivecork disks from said last named tube and deliver them to said corkfeeding attachments r spectively, a gate adapted to close the open inginsaid last named tube adjacent each assembling machine, said tubeadjacent said assembling machines being of gradually de creasingdiameter from adjacent said blower, a branch tube leading from saidlasnamed tube betwee said assembling machines and said blower, and agate whereby' said branch tube may be opened or closed, as desirec.

15. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein aplurality of disk forming mechanisi is, a pneumatic tube adapted toreceive disks from said mechanisms espec'tively, a blower having itsinlet connected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of graduallyreduced diameter from a acent said blower, a second pneumatic tubeleading from the outlet of: said blower, a plurality of movable screens,branch tubes leading from said second pneumatic tube and discharginginto said screens respectively, said second pneumatic tube being ofgradually reduced diameter from adjacent the outlet of said blower,means adapted to receive disks from said screens respectively, apneumatic tube into which id last named means respectively discharge, ablower having its inlet connected with said last named pneumatic tube,and a pneumatic tube connected with the outlet of said last namedblower, whereby said disks will be conveyed from said blower to a pointremote therefrom.

in witness whereof I have hereunto ai'liXed my signature, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. this 22nd day Of December, 1921.

CHARLES MoMANUS.

Witnesses Fmnna Roxanna Scrum M. Brennan.

